Who are we?

Joyful Mind Zen Community exists solely to freely provide diverse, ethical, and inclusive practices of Zen for all people. We provide Zen meditation training, instruction, and practice periods as well as retreats.

Our Board of Directors helps support our practice. We are governed by Bylaws, and a Grievance and Reconciliation policy and Code of Ethics including being a welcoming and affirming community

Our teachers have been trained in healthy boundaries and follow a code of ethics.

We are a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, operating solely from volunteer dedication and donations.

Upon request, we will provide free of charge copies of our exemption application (IRS Form 1023-EZ) and our IRS Forms 990-N.

Joyful Mind Zendo was founded in 2023 by Sensei Martine Palmiter after studying 18 years with her teacher Sensei Rose Mary Dougherty of One Heart Sangha. Martine served as the first President and as a Guiding Teacher of One Heart Sangha, and brought her experience in teaching and vision to Joyful Mind Zendo.

Rose Mary encouraged teaching zen to all people regardless of faith tradition, to have full trust in the love, compassion and wisdom of the Zen path.

Rose Mary was a Catholic sister and Zen Teacher, Sensei, as well as a program director of spiritual direction at Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation for 30 years. She studied under Charlotte Joko Beck.

Zen Master Dogen is one of the founders of Zen. His teachings on Joyful Mind, Big Mind, and Kindness support our practice.

Dogen wrote: “When interacting with others, maintain three minds of practice: joyful mind, caring mind, great mind. “

Joyful Mind is an attitude; it is the Zen spirit of practice. It is an attitude of resilience and opportunity, keeping our eyes and minds and hearts open, no fear, cultivating helpfulness, a sense of harmony and community.

Dogen: “We cannot practice just for ourselves, or it will not benefit others.”

…“Allow all things to come into and reside in this heart-mind, and let them function as a whole…Keep your eyes open. You should think of the best way to serve the community, having no fear of limitations, and not to grumble about the quality of the ingredients, but to cultivate a temper which sees and respects them fully for what they are.”